Sunday, March 2, 2025
Order of Service
We welcome all gathering for worship this morning or later in the week. Whether you attend in-person, worship on ZOOM or YouTube, or are a viewer on Rogers TV20 - please know that we consider everyone to be a part of our worship experience and an integral member of our St. Andrew's Guelph community.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this morning's service, both in-person and virtually.
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Prelude: Liturgical Prelude #2 G. Oldroyd
Prelude on “Quebec” arr. F. Bock
Call to Worship
187 We have come at Christ’s own bidding
(tune #371)
Prayer of Adoration and Confession
Declaration of Forgiveness
Anthem:
Be still, for the presence of the Lord arr. R. Shephard
Prayer for Illumination
Gracious God, as we approach your Word, even as we soon come to your Table, we humbly ask that you open the eyes of our hearts to the light of your truth. Refresh our minds with understanding of your will, so that we may clearly see the depths of your wisdom and love. Guide our hearts to follow where your lead and grant us the grace to live according to the example and teachings of Christ our Saviour. Amen.
John 9:1-27
SERMON: OUR CERTAIN SAVIOUR
“I am the man.” John 9:9
Call for the Offering
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Offertory: Minuet on “Martyn” arr. D. Hustad
Doxology
Tune: Old 100th
Prayer of Dedication
Gracious God, you have given us life and blessed us in Christ with new life. Bless the gifts we offer today, and bless our lives, so that others may see your amazing grace at work in us and what we offer the world in Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
The One who was with God in the beginning,
is with us in this bread.
The One of whom the prophets spoke,
now speaks to us in this cup.
Introduction
“We who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.” 1 Corinthians 10:17
In the Lord’s Supper, we receive and trust the love of Christ present to us and to the world. Through this Sacrament, we are renewed and empowered to be the Church, the body of Christ, in the world. May this holy meal nourish us and refresh us, may it strengthen us and renew us, may it unite us and keep us in God’s gracious love.
Declaration of Faith - The Apostles’ Creed 539
(This creed is called the Apostles' Creed not because it was produced by the apostles themselves but because it contains a summary of their teachings. It sets forth their doctrine "in sublime simplicity, in unsurpassable brevity, in beautiful order, and with liturgical solemnity." In its present form it is dated no later than the fourth century. The Creed’s reference to ‘catholic’ means the Christian church of all times and all places.)
Institution
Beloved in the Lord, attend to the words of the Institution of the Holy Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ as they are delivered unto us by the Apostle Paul: “I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto You.”
Invitation
Come unto Me all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and in Me you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28
549 For the bread which you have broken
The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Holy God, Creator of heaven and earth,
with joy we give you thanks and praise.
You are holy, and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. In Jesus, your Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. Jesus lived as one of us, knowing joy and sorrow. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, opened blind eyes, broke bread with outcasts and sinners, and proclaimed the Good News of your kingdom to the poor and needy.
Dying on the cross, he gave himself for the life of the world. Rising from the grave, he won for us victory over death. Seated at your right hand, he leads us to eternal life. We praise you that Christ now reigns with you in glory and will come again to make all things new.
Therefore, we praise you, joining our voices with choirs of angels, and with all the faithful of every time and place, who forever sing to the glory of your name:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to Thee, O Lord most high. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
We rejoice that in Jesus you have come in love to lead us to love. Therefore, in glad remembrance of your mighty acts in Him, we shall take this Bread and this Cup and give you praise and thanksgiving as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Here we offer ourselves to be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to you. In your mercy, accept our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Fill us with the joy of eternal life, that we may be your faithful people until we feast with you in glory.
Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, in the bond of peace all glory and honour are yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen.
Distribution
Further to map in this bulletin, please note that the elements will be received by making our way to the Communion Table, as we are able. There we will receive the Bread, which is gluten free, and then the Cup. Then we shall return with them to our pew that we may consume them together, with those who remained seated yet received the elements from a server who will come to them where they are.
Prayer before Partaking
Dear God, We are grateful you asked your people to form themselves into communities of faith—and for the wise and gracious way you have provided for the edification of your church, in holiness and love. We are grateful to be invited to be here. We thank you for this table that we come to now and for all who have come to it in times past. Instil within us a deep reverence for your commands, a desire for you in our daily round, and a willingness to devote ourselves to serving your through Christ. Show us by this Bread and Cup the way we should go and all who we can be. Give us confidence in what is of you that we may be for you, a people together trusting that you intend for each one of us to be present at this feast of love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Communion Anthem: Jesus, Bread of Life A. Whitehead
Partaking
Lift up your hearts and minds above the cares and fears of this world and let this bread and this fruit of the vine be to you the token and pledge of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
O taste and see that the Lord is good.
The bread of life for all who hunger.
The cup of love for a broken world.
Agnus Dei
Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world,
grant us your peace.
Prayers of The People
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
775 Sent forth by your blessing
Benediction
Postlude: Trumpet Tune (Nun Danket) arr. G. Krapf
We gather on the traditional territory of the Wendat, the Anishnaabeg and the Haudenosaunee Peoples. We are also on lands that are part of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum. We live and work, worship, learn and meet on lands that are the traditional territory of many different Indigenous Peoples who were here before the establishment of European colonies.
